Shoe cleaner



Feb. 19, 1963 R. L. GERARD SHOE CLEANER Filed Nov. 2, 1961 INVENTOK Rozszerz, W

ORNEYS 3371624 SHE CLEANER Robert L. Gerard, Wiiiow River, Mimi., assignor of onehaft to Robert F. Koiosh Moose Lake, Minn. Filed Nov. 2, 196i, Ser. No. 149,766

' anime. (ci. rsfl-s'o This invention relates to a shoe Cleaner and more particularly relates to a power-operated apparatus for Cleaning dirt and other foreign materials from the soles of a person's shoes.

Although apparatus of this type have been known in the past, such apparatus have been expensive to install and cumbersome to use.

An object of my invention is the provision of a new and improved shoe-cleaning apparatus of simple and ine-xpensive construction and operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel shoe-cleaning apparatus which will clean the soles of a person`s shoes without requiring any effort on the part of the person having his shoes cleaned.l

Another object of my invention is the provision of an improved and novel apparatus which may be readily and` easily installedin the floor adjacent a building or room entrance so that as persons walk through the entrance, the soles of the shoes of the person will be cleaned.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following descrip-4 tion made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FTG. l is a perspective view of the invention installed in a floor area which may be adjacent an entrance;

PIG. 2 is a side elevation view7 partly broken away, showing the apparatus separated from the fioor structure; and

'FEC 3 is an end elevation view of the apparatus, being partly broken away and partly shown in section for clarity of detail.

One form of the present invention is shown in the drawings and is described herein. The shoe-cleaning apparatus is indicated in general by numeral 10 and will be mounted in a fioor F, and in the present disclosure the floor F is the top step of an entranceway.

The apparatus lit includes a frame structure 11 having a lower rigid frame portion 12 and an upper rectangular frame portion 13 which is constructed of angle iron material to define an outwardly protrucling fiange portion 13a which will overlie the inner marginal portion of the` fioor F adjacent an opening therein for receiving the frame 11. The upper rectangular framework 13 is supported from the lower frame 12 by a plurality of rigid support posts or legs 14 which attach the upper rectangular framework 13 in rigid relation to the lower frame l12. The upper rectangular framework define's an enlarged central open area 15, across which extends a plurality of eiongate rigid juxtaposed rods 16 which are spaced from each other so as to define a perforate support adapted to carry the weight of a person thereon.

The apparatus lt? also includes a brush 17 which has a generally horizontal and rigid back 18 with a plurality of upwardly projecting bristles 19 afiixed thereto and arranged in a plurality of tufts which are oriented in lines and rows. lt will be noted that the lines of tufts of bristles 19 are spaced slightly from each other so as to accommodate the rods '15 therebetween as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. The brush 17 is supported in U-shaped end frames 2% which are tied together by a pair of rods Zib with threaded ends and nuts 21a thereon. The end frames 2% are atiixed as by bolts at their opposite ends to the upper ends of coil Springs 22, the lower ends of which are rent ffree MMM dzi secured as by bolts to the bottom frame 3x2. it will therefore be seen that the brush 17 'is yieldably supported so as to be depressed under the weight of a person standing on the upper ends of the bristles 19. lt will be noted that the upper rectangular frame 13 is somewhat longer than the brush 17, but the frame 13 is of substantially a fore-and-aft direction, and in the form shown, such means includes a motor 23 connected by a belt 24- to the pulley 25 on a shaft 2d which is journalled in the bearings 27 which are affixed to the frame structure 11. The shaft 26 has eccentrics 23 at its opposite ends, and a pair of links 2% are respectively connected to the eccentrics 23 adjacent the opposite sides of the brush 17 and the links 2% are also pivotally connected at 3G to ears 31 which are welded to the rods 21. It will be seen that by virtue of the substantially horizontally extending links 29 v which interconnect the eccentrics and the brush 17, de-

pression of the brush at either side or in its entirety under the weight -of a person standing on the bristles will not adversely affect the operation of the drive mechanism for causing reciprocation of the brush in a fore-and-aft direction when the motor 23 is operated.

The apparatus is also provided with means responsive to depression of the brush 17 for Operating the motor 23. In the form shown, such means includes a switch element 32 and a switch-Operating element 33. The switch element 32 is a conventional type of microswitch and is affixed to the lower frame 12 and is disposed substantially midway between the opposite ends of the brush 17 and also approximately midway 'between the opposite sides of the brush. The switch-Operating element 33 comprises an elongate ilexible, but resilient strip of spring steel extencling in the fore-and-aft direction of reciprocation and having its opposite ends a'lfixed to the lower side of the brush hacking 18. The switch-operatlng element 33 is in vertically spaced relation with the switch element 32 so as to move downwardly into engagement with the switch element for Operating the same when the brush 17 is depressed. it will be noted that is a result of the resiliency and -exibility of the switch-operating element 33, the element 33 will remain in engage- 'ment with the switch element 32 during normal reciprocation of the brush 17 because the switch-operating element 33 will fiex and will continue to flex as it moves back and forth across the switch element 32. If the weight of the person is applied to any portion of the brush or top of the bristles as seen in FG. 1, the switch element 32 will be operated so as to start the motor and produce the fore-and-aft reciprocation. When the brush 17 is depressed under the weight of a person standing thereon, the upper ends of the bristles, which are normally disposed above the rods 16 as shown in the drawings, will move downwardly so as to be substantially flush with the top of the rods, whereupon the weight of the person is supported by the rods and the fore-and-aft reciprocation of the brush and its bristles causes cleaning of the soles of the shoes of the person standing on the rods. Of course, the Springs 22 continue to urge the brush upwardly into engagement with the soles of the shoes so that thorough cleaning is effected even though the person nierely steps on the bristles as he is walking across.

'It will be understood that the opening in the fioor F is deep enough to accommodate the entire frame 11 and the motor 23. The opening in the floor may also be large enough to accommodate an air conduit which may be connected to a suction fan for drawing the dirt swept from the soles of the person's shoes downwardly into a tially at' the elevation of the 'floor for supporting the` weight of a-person, a brush having a generally horizontal and rigid back disposed below said support? and also having a pluralityv ofV upwardly projecting br-isties' extendframe and permitting limited downward yielding of the brush when the weight ofv a: person is applied thereto, means driving and elementl connected With said' sourceof. power for operating the same, a switch-Operating element,v one of` said elements being mounted on thel brush andithe other of said elements` being mounted'onthe frame, said'elements` ibeing disposed in verticaliy' spaced relationl with' each power and cause reciprocation of the brush while thev weight of the person is carried on said perforate support. 2. A shoe-cleaning apparatus to be mounted ina floor,

said apparatus comprising a frame defining an enlargedcentral open area with a' plurality of juxtaposed support rods extending across the open area of the frame,

and being disposed substantially at the elevation of theV floor, a brush having a rigid and generally horizontal back'disposed below' said rods and also having a plurality of upwardly projecting bristles extending upwardly between the rods for engaging the shoes of a personV standing on the bristiesV and rods, resilient means supporting said brush on the frame and permitting limited downward yielding of the brush when the weight of a person is applied thereon and causing the weight ofthev person to be transferred to said rods, means driving and guiding said brush in fore-and-aft reciprocation parallel to said rods and including a source of power, a switch element connected With said source of power for operating the same, a switch-Operating element, one` of saidelements 'being mounted on the brush and the other of said elements being mounted on the frame, said elements being disposed in Vertically spaced relation -witheach other for engaging each other and Operating the switch element when the brush is depressed under the weight of a person and thereby Operating the source of power to cause reciprocation of the vbrush and Cleaning of the person's shoes as the personsis supported by said rods.

3. A shoe-cleaning apparatus to be mounted in a floor, said apparatus comprising a frame having a perforate stationary support afixed thereto and disposed substantially at the elevation of the iioor for supporting the weight of a person, a 'brush having a ,generally horizontai guiding said brushin fore-and-aftU reeiprocation and-including a'source ofV power, a switch rigid back with upwardly projecting bristles thereon and projecting through the perforate support, resilient means supporting said brush on the frame with the bristles substantially disposed at the elevation of the floor and permitting downward yielding of the brush when the weight of a person is applied thereon, means driving and guiding said brush in fore-and-aft reciprocaton and including a source of power, a switch element connected with said source of power for Operating the same, an elongate switchperating element extending in said' fore-and-aft -direction, one of said elements being mounted on the 'brush and the other ofsaid elements being mounted on the" frame, said elements` being` disposedv in. vertically spaced; relation with each other for engaging each other and causing the switch element to be operated and for operatingzsaid'source of power and cause reciprocation of the brush: When the brush isV depres edunder the weight of the person, and said switch-Operating element maintaining; said switch in: operat-ed' condition during reciprocation'of the brush.

4. A shoe-cleaning apparatus to bemounted. in a fioor,

said apparatus comprising av frame having a perforate stationary support affixedV thereto and disposed substantially at' the elevation` of the floorV for supporting` the.

weight of a person, aabrush having a rigid and. generally horizontal back withy upwardly projecting bristles thereon,- resilientmeansy supporting said brush on the frame with' the: bristlesl substantially'-disposed at the elevation of: the floor andZ permitting limited downward` yielding of the brush when the'weight of a person. is applied' thereon, means -driving and guiding said brushzin fore-and-aft reciprocation andv including a'source ofpower, aswitch element-connected with said source of power for operating the same, an elongate resilient fiexible switch-operatng element extending; in said fore-and-aft direction. and vbeingl normally vertically spaeed from said switch element,l said` elementsv 'being mounted: onV the frame' and:

brush respectively for engaging; each other and Operating bristles, said resiliently flexible switch-Operatingl element yieldmg when in en- References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,577,294 Aben Dec. 4, 1951 2,647,271 Ryzenga Aug. 4, 1953 FOR-EIGN PATENTS 146,453 Germany July 10, 1936 DN N 

1. A SHOE-CLEANING APPARATUS TO BE MOUNTED IN A FLOOR, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A FRAME HAVING A PERFORATE STATIONARY SUPPORT AFFIXED THERETO AND DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE ELEVATION OF THE FLOOR FOR SUPPORTING THE WEIGHT OF A PERSON, A BRUSH HAVING A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL AND RIGID BACK DISPOSED BELOW SAID SUPPORT AND ALSO HAVING A PLURALITY OF UPWARDLY PROJECTING BRISTLES EXTENDING THROUGH THE PERFORATE SUPPORT AND PROJECTING THEREABOVE, RESILIENT MEANS SUPPORTING SAID BRUSH ON THE FRAME AND PERMITTING LIMITED DOWNWARD YIELDING OF THE BRUSH WHEN THE WEIGHT OF A PERSON IS APPLIED THERETO, MEANS DRIVING AND GUIDING SAID BRUSH IN FORE-AND-AFT RECIPROCATION AND INCLUDING A SOURCE OF POWER, A SWITCH ELEMENT CONNECTED WITH SAID SOURCE OF POWER FOR OPERATING THE SAME, A SWITCH-OPERATING ELEMENT, ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS BEING MOUNTED ON THE BRUSH AND THE OTHER OF SAID ELEMENTS BEING MOUNTED ON THE FRAME, SAID ELEMENTS BEING DISPOSED IN VERTICALLY SPACED RELATION WITH EACH OTHER FOR ENGAGING EACH OTHER AND OPERATING THE SWITCH ELEMENT WHEN THE WEIGHT OF A PERSON ON THE BRISTLES DEPRESSES THE BRUSH AND TO THEREBY OPERATE THE SOURCE OF POWER AND CAUSE RECIPROCATION OF THE BRUSH WHILE THE WEIGHT OF THE PERSON IS CARRIED ON SAID PERFORATE SUPPORT. 